Call Centre Crisis Threatens 250 Jobs

Fears are growing for the overall future of one of Londonderry's biggest employers.

Stream International called staff together for a major announcement this afternoon.

It emerged that 250 workers could lose their jobs if another contract is not found in 90 days.

At present, more than 600 people are employed at the firm's Branch Road site which also has offices on Spencer Road - about half of the number initially on the books at the two Derry facilities after previous cut-backs.

The details emerged following a meeting with senior management at Stream International on Wednesday afternoon.

All staff, including those who were off-duty or coming off shifts, were asked to attend.

It at first looked likely that the entire Derry operation was to be placed on 90 days redundancy notice.

Local SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey told UTV that the news is a major cause for concern for workers.

"They're very nervous, and it's understandably so. They want to know the bottom line, and whether they going to have jobs for the foreseeable future, or if not, what's going to happen," he said.

(BMcc)